Loading machine



Aug. 14, 1951 R. D.' MacDoNALD 2,564,456

LOADING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fa u I N V EN TOR.

R. D. MacDoNALD LOADING MACHINE Aug.. 14, 1951 5 sheets-sheet :av

Filed March 12, 1948 Aug. 14, 1951 R. D. MaGDoNALD LOADING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March l2, 1948 JNVENTOR.

ug 14, 1951 R. D. MaCDoNALU 2,564,486

LOADING MACHINE Filed March l2, 1948 n 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i INVENToR.

Allg. 14, 1951 R, D MacDONALD 2,564,486

LOADING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1948 y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 14, 1951 y *y -UN1IEB `smT15:s vBluffs.: NTl oFf'FieELOADING MACHINE rRaymoreD. MacDonald, La Grange, lll.,-assignor tolAtheyProducts Corporation,LChjcagol'Ill., a lcorporatior'i of-Illinois f.ApplicatioMaroh; 12, 1948, ySerial'lNo."14,'511

l 8f Claims. C1.'v 198-`10) Y :l I

This invention relates to'loading machines, and "Fig. -3. 'is afrag-mentaryf'side yelevational-.fvieW '-,more iparticularlyl tolsnchmachines-of.- a -Se1ff drawnftof a'largersoale-than Fgs.1:and .2and f propelled and' movable-type -embodyingvaConshowing'then-fronteportion: ,of :theloading ma- -veyor foreffecting.the@noovement'o material in chine depicted -in-F-ig.1',:W,l'1ich` from; Apori-,ion loading 'operationsvandQthelike. i155 rincludesa. material.feedingfmechanism;

One of"A the 'f'objectsofamy *invention is to pro- Fig.- 4 .isa'fragmentary.- Aside `sectional rview of vide' amachineadapted"toffuseA in. loading mar a portion of the-=struetureshown-in-FigsB-and :terial fromfstockfzfpilesf and theflika -fwhich ma--wherein the-operationef the `=1oaderiin .thefhan-'chinehas:mobility'forapproaching the material `-dlingof'lmaterialfrom-a-=stockpile Olathe likeaccompanied'by-,anyeffectiveandfecient assem-frl'O i is lillustrated;

' blysoffpar-ts-for:feeding= the--material with sub- Figs-.5 isafragmentary 4Nside rView,soirnewhat r stantial rcontinuityf ontofra-drivenf loading y conl similar zato Fig. `4;-vdraWnMtol/a-.smallenfscaleand.

-veyOL v .l having-'different ,parts-omitted towshowfthevsup- `In` theVassemblyfoivparts referred -to,'=the -pre- -portingY frame structure'fora'that portion fofmthe cludes a pan; at=:thef.front:end'fof'wwhichvis-fa .-Fgf fisra fragmentarytopziplanaviewi-oflthecutter 1blade, andf-across-bwfhichcutter blade andp'ortioneoffthestructure.illustratedinlig 3and f' panmaterialiszmovedsby:a Vdrivenffeederchain r-havingeparzts omitted,moreclearly toadepict'the assemblyconstruetedandfarranged xwith thepursuppor-tii-ig-:structure-forthev assembly;

pose'andIobjectfof'keeping the.fcutter-fbladefand "-20 Figs. l-7 and 8-are `respectively1 top plan l and pan clean-wand'fcleared. AVforceffective. operation iront elevational l 'views of a.preferred `-formnof f by the 'use voff rbuckets in ythe ffeederfchain; asmold boardand -1feed 4fpan assemblyntilized Kin -sembly -wh'iclr sul@stant-ia-llylWipethe fcutterlblade the'- loading-` machines` depicted :inl Figs. 1,,2.and

and' move.=a`1ong= theypanrinf-*practically-parallel 3;and frelationshipv thereto;A as f-Well @asv effectively-Inov- Fig9eisfa:perspectiveviewatakeni fromin front.

" ing materialftoward; ontoiandf'acrossthe: pan. -and-to-one-sideofythe-moldhoard. andf Ieedl.pan

zfFrom thy-forward end:of-fthevaforementioned lassemblyfshown=finfFigsfv5.and6. f'

-vpanfa'ndf cutterfblade; thelfeeder chain vassembly -Havingfreferenceto the -drawings .and lparf' extends forwardly and r{upwardlyn7soas-tof"ac ftieularly Ato Figs.-1 Jand-2 .rthereoilthe exem--foomplish #the-desi-red :purpose-offmOVng-fmate-13th plaryfembodimentaofamy: loadngmachnelwhich rial downwardly lan'dftewardthe:cutter-blade ismdepieted herein-fori.illustrative,.purposes Pis a It isfurther within the purview-.fof -my-in- 1 mobile unit-having.afumain.chassis .I- through -vention-to providefa'loadingmachineembodywhich.the-vstructure.vof-,theloader is carred.by

ing'a material'feeding 'assemblywhich yincludes steer-'able frontfwheels.l2..and. drivenfrear Wheels moldfboa-rds ofaidouble--plate'construction andere.; 13. An--internal.\ combustionfengine. which is in- -each presentingial relatively-sharp cutting ledge-d-icatedat- ML in::Eig. -1,. serves A4asaprime mover 'f and ldisposedto= effectrahighpercentageof free for fthe-loadinamachine .'In.thefdis'closed mafall' of the material to thefside'portions of an`lchinef'a platform. l5. is providedat `one side of intermediatelylocated dri/en yfeeder-rnechanismyther main v`chassis HID .upon .whichan Operator Aseanother -featureicontributing toimprovedflrfsa)standsv.tov-controlthe .course..and Operation ofoperatiomparticularlyin-'loading material from them-achim; as.Well.asto,observe the,perform stock= piles*andf-the=like,-my`rlo'ading'machine .aifiee.Y Y Y l`includes-one orfmorefagitator vbladeseach supwAbove theiehassis .-Hlv .andsloping.upwardly `ported forldisposition #at 'an adjusted position from-mfrontito; rear,.ra.cenveyorLB is supportedabove and infront of a-dri-ven feeder meohanismff@Thisfeonveyorfin-ftheJpresent, instance, .and vas Other objectsand-advantages-of'the invenshowninligsrzandra,.includesanendlesscontion-will be 'apparent fromthe following -descrip-`yeyoinbeltlLcarried-floy rollers-such.V as VI8 and Mtion andtheaccompanying-drawings in which -[aand,havingVsidelpanels'20` and. 22extending #similar charactersfofreference indicate similaralongtheoppesite sides thereof to connema- --fpartsrthroughoutwthe-several Views. "v50y lterial tothesur-iaoe ofthe belt. Bypreference,

',Referring to Ythe livel-sheets "of drawings, -the *conveyor It:compri-ses a unitary sub-assem- Figs. l-rand-#Z- are `respectively-Asideelevational bly of Ythe machine and isV supported from'the I'and -ft'opplanyiews -of fiadmobile loading fmamain chassis I-/at orfnearitsre'arend for limited vchine1embodying'faiA preferred form 'of my-in-'-Msxfinging movement relativeltoa'horiZontalaXiS event-ion; l .At.theidont end,v the Lfc'onveyor' :is j support i701' limited verticalmovementl by a frame 23 secured to the main chassis l and chains 24(Figs. 1 and 3), as will be more fully described.

At the front end of the conveyor I6, a feed pan and mold board assembly25, a driven feeding mechanism 26 andagitators 21 adapted to useparticularly in stock pile loading are supported for separate adjustmentto various vertical positions from the frame 23 and constitute amaterial feeding assembly adapted to the efficient and effectivemovement of material from a road surface, stock pile, or the like to theconveyor for elevation thereby and loading into a vehicle.

In the operation of the loading machine, the operator has control of themovements of the machine through control elements such as a steeringwheel 28 and gear shift lever 26.V In addition to being utilized formovements of the entire machine, the engine I4 is drivingly connected toshafts 30 and 32 through a drive shaft 33 and gear box34. 'The conveyorbelt is driven from the shaft 30 through an auxiliary Vgear box 35,while the feeding mechanism 26 is driven through the shaft 32 and anauxiliary gear box 36.

Referring more particularly to the larger and more detailed views ofFigs. 3 and 4, the frame 23 preferably extends upwardly from the frontend ofthe main chassis I0 and is braced on each side by trusses 31extending downwardly and to the rear and having their opposite endssecured to the frame 23 and to the main chassis. Arms 33 projectforwardly from opposite sides of the top I of the frame 23 and arebraced by angularly disposed trusses 39, the opposite ends of which aresecured to the projecting ends of the arms and to the sides of theframe. Shafts 4U, 42 and 43 extend laterally ofthe machine insubstantially parallel and spaced relationship and are carried rforrotational movement by the. forwardly prof jectingr arms 38. The shaft4D has crank arms 44 secured to opposite ends thereof and an additionalcrank arm 45 secured to the mid-portion thereof in angularly disposedrelationship to the crank .arms 44. A power actuating element such as ahydraulic jack 46 has one end anchored to one of the trusses 31 and itsother end pivotally connected to the crank arm 45, so that extension andretraction of the hydraulic jack produce rotational movement of theshaft 40 and ,swinging movements of the crank arms 44.

On opposite sides of the lower end, as shown in Fig. 3, the unitaryconveyor assembly is carried from the main chassis through downwardlyprojecting end portions such as 41 of the side members of the frame 23by truss bars 48; one end of each truss bar 48 being pivotally supportedfrom the frame 23 by a stud shaft 49 and the other ends ,being connectedto the conveyor assembly ,through a projecting shaft 50, so that thelower end. of the conveyor assembly is vertically movable Within alimited range about the axis of thestuds 49 to establish desirableground clearance. The chains 24, on opposite sides of the conveyor,

each have a lower end secured to the conveyor l, assembly through a pin52 located near the r shaft 50. The other ends of the chains 24 areconnected to the projecting ends of the crank arms 44. so that the lowerend of the conveyor is movement by the opposite ends of the projectingr`shaft 5U. My preferred type of feed pan and mold board assemblycomprises a feed pan 54 in the form of a substantially flat plate whichslopes upwardly fromY a normal position at or near ground level andoverlaps the front end of the conveyor belt, as shown in Fig. 4. At theforward edge, the feed pan is preferably provided with a hardened cutterblade 55 which is secured thereto and projects beyond the forward edgeof the pan. Also, at its opposite` sides, the pan has side panels 56secured thereto for confining material which is moved across the pan.Mold boards 51 are secured to or integral with the forward ends of theside panels 56 in diverging relationship forwardly of the pan so as totend to concentrate the material therebetween as such materialapproaches the pan. To provide bracing, as well as support, it is themold boards 51 to which the forward ends of the side tubes 53 aresecured. Additional bracing and support are also provided by side braces58 having their ends secured to the side tubes and tothe upper andforward portions of the side panels 56. At the forward edges ofthe moldboards 51, side plates 59 are secured thereto by means such as welding,and so as to present relatively sharp forward edges 60. From thoseforward edges, the side plates 59 desirably diverge rearwardly from theouter surfaces of the mold boards, so as to tend to spread the materialto form a path as the loading machine moves forwardly. As shown in Figs.'1, 8 and 9, it is my structural preference that the mold boards 51 aresubstantially right triangular in shape and adjoin the forward edges ofthe side panels 56 so that the'lower edges of the mold boards extendforwardly from the cutting edge of the cutter blade 55. One ofthe rightangular edges of each mold board adjoins one of the side panels whilethe other forms the bottom of the mold board. Thus, the third edge ofeach mold board extends upwardly from a position which is normally at ornear ground level to the top edge of each side panel. With the partsshaped and assembled in this manner, the mold boards are practicallyvertical, so that they do not tend to lift material as they are movedinto a pile, but rather the material has a tendency to fall freelytherefrom toward and into the path of the feeding mechanism 26.

The side plates 59 which diverge rearwardly from the outer sides of themold boards 51 are also preferably triangular, with their angles andsizes selected so that their lower edges are substantially in a planewith the lower edges of the mold boards and the cutting edge of thecutter blade. lIn the disclosed structure, the side plates terminatebelow the upper ends of the mold boards, but are of a suicient extent toeffect a substantial spreading action against the material as the moldboards move into a pile or the like, so that a path is provided for theinward movement of the machine.

In addition tothe support for the feed lpan and mold board assemblyprovided by the side tubes 53, and as shown in Figs. l, 3 and 6,additional and adjustable support is provided through truss bars 62 onopposite sides of the feed pan and mold board assembly. Each of thetruss bars, by preference, is substantially rigid in structurecompressionally, as well as in tension, and includes a turnbuckle 63 foreffecting adjustment of the length thereof. The lower end .-angle totheir respective pole axes.

through longitudinally displaced holes in the sections. At the rear end,each pole is hingedly con'- nected to one of the main support arms 13for vertical swinging movement by brackets |04 secured to those supportarms. In the disclosed structure, the vertical positions of the agitatorpoles are determined by supports at the mid-portions of the poles. Asdisclosed in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the support for each agitator polecomprises a support arm |05 secured to and extending upwardly from oneof the main support arms 13; the adjacent agitator pole being securedthereto at an adjusted height by means such as a pin or bolt |06extending through one of a series of holes y|0'| displaced along thesupport arm |05.

At their forward ends, the agitator poles |00 have agitator blades |08secured thereto. The agitators, including the agitator poles 99 andblades |08, have been found to be particularly effective for assistingthe flow of material to the feeding mechanism in loading certain typesof material such as loose sand, gravel or rock and the like from stockpiles. In the usual adjustment of the agitators, the agitator blades |08are disposed to dig into the pile at a position somewhat above and aheadof the feeding mechanism. Since the normal operation of the drivenfeeding mechanism normally produces some vertical jiggling movement ofthat mechanism which is transmitted to the agitator blades through themain support arms and agitator poles, the agitators loosen and effect adownward gravitational flow of the material.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, it is my preference that the agitatorblades |08 have pointed forward ends |09 which are 4adapted to dig intothe pile. Also, the agitator blades are, by preference, disposed insubstantially vertical planes so as to pass quite readily through thematerial when jiggled in the vertical direction, and are desirablydisposed in angular'relationship to the axes of the poles so as to pointinwardly at the front, somewhat toward one another, at an obtuse `Suchinward divergence of the agitator blades does not materially interferewith the vertical jiggling movement thereof, but tends to effect theagitation and flow of more material toward the feeding mechanism.

From the foregoing description of the structure and operation of myloading machine, it may be readily understood that I have provided sucha machine which is adapted to a wide variety of uses, as a result of itsmobility and the provision of an efficient feeding mechanism accompaniedby an effective mold board and feed pan structure. It is further to benoted that in addition to the fact that the mold board and feed panassembly, driven feeding mechanism and agitators are constructed andarranged for cooperative action, they are also relatively and separatelyadjusted to adapt their actions to materials and conditions ofoperation. f

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish -to be Vlimited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes`within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a mobile loading machine adapted to the `loading of material fromstock .piles .and the like 8 and including a belt conveyor, thecombination comprising a pan sloping upwardly at and having a portionoverlying the forward end of the belt conveyor, said pan having a cutterblade extending across the forward edge thereof, mold boards divergingoutwardly and extending forwardly from the forward end of the cutterblade, each of said mold boards comprising a substantially righttriangular plate disposed with the right angular corner adjacent one endof the `cutter' blade and its rear edge substantially vertical, and asecond triangular plate adjoining the forward edge of the firstmentioned plate and defining therewith a relatively sharp edge slopingupwardly and rearwardly from the front end of the mold board, the planeof the second plate being disposed to diverge rearwardly from the planeof the first mentioned plate, and the lower edges of the first andsecond mentioned plates lying in a plane substantially parallel to thefor- -ward edge of the cutter blade.

2. In a mobile loading machine adapted to the loading of material fromstock piles and the like and including a belt conveyor, the combinationcomprising a pan sloping upwardly at and having a portion overlying theforward end of the belt conveyor, said pan having a cutter bladeextending across the forward edge thereof, mold boards divergingoutwardly and extending forwardly from the forward end of the pan, andsaid mold boards each comprising two triangular plates adjoined topresent a relatively sharp forward edge and diverging downwardlyand'rearwardly from one another, said sharp forward edges of the moldboards diverging forwardly, and the lower edges of the triangular plateslying in a plane substantially parallel to the forward edge of thecutter blade.

3. In a mobile loading machine adapted to the loading of material fromstock piles and the like and including a belt conveyor, the combinationcomprising a pan sloping upwardly at and having a portion overlying theforward end of the belt conveyor, said pan having a cutter bladeextending across the forward edge thereof, mold boards divergingoutwardly and extending forwardly from the forward end of the pan, eachof said mold boards comprising two triangular plates divergingrearwardly and downwardly from one another and adjoined to present arelatively sharp forward edge sloping downwardly toward the front to aposition at substantially the level of the cutter blade, and a feedermechanism disposed between and extending forwardly of =the `mold boardsand including two chains carrying buckets therebetween and each carriedby three sprockets, the disposition of the sprockets and direction ofmovement of the chain being such that the buckets move materialdownwardly and between the mold boards in a direction transverse to saidrelatively sharp forward edges of the mold boards and pass closelyacross the cutter blade and pan.

from the'forward end of the pan, each of said mold boards comprising twotriangular plates adjoined to present a relatively sharp forward edgeand diverging rearwardly and downwardly from one another, and a feedermechanism disposed between and extending forwardly of the mold boardsand including two chains carrying buckets therebetween and each carriedby three sprockets, one of the sprockets carrying each chain beingdisposed near the cutter blade and the others of the sprockets for eachchain being respectively located to the fore and rear as well as abovethe said one and at positions such that a portion of the chain moves ina path substantially parallel to the pan and another portion thereofextends upwardly in front of the pan in obtuse angular relationship tothe upper surface of the pan and in a direction transverse to said sharpforward edges of the mold boards.

5. In a mobile loading machine including a driven conveyor, thecombination of a pan and mold board assembly comprising a pan slopingdownwardly in a forward direction from the conveyor, side panelsextending upwardly from the opposite sides of the pan and beingsubstantially coextensive therewith longitudinally of the pan, moldboards adjoining and diverging forwardly from said side panels, and eachof said mold boards including two plates of triangular shape adjoined attheir forward edges so as to diverge rearwardly and downwardly from oneanother, the lower edges of said plates lying in a plane substantiallyparallel to the forward edge of the pan.

6. In a mobile loading machine as defined in claim 5, said plates whichcomprise the mold boards being shaped and adjoined to present arelatively sharp forward cutting edge sloping upwardly from theirforward ends and toward the panels.

7. In a mobile loading machine as defined in claim 5, the combinationwherein said mold board assembly is supported for vertical movementrelative to the conveyor lby side bars secured t0 opposite sides of saidassembly and having ends carried for swinging movement relative to anaxis at the end of the conveyor.

8. In a, mobile loading machine including a driven conveyor thecombination of a pan and mold board assembly comprising a pan slopingdownwardly in a forward direction from the conveyor, side panelsextending upwardly from the opposite sides of the pan and beingsubstantially coextensive therewith longitudinally of the pan, moldboards adjoining and diverging forwardly from said side panels, each ofsaid mold boards including two plates adjoined at their forward edgesand diverging downwardly and rearwardly from one another, said moldboard assembly being supported for vertical movement relative to theconveyor by members having an axis of swinging movement to the rear ofand below the pan at the end of the conveyor, power operated meansmovable vertically to selected positions, and substantially rigid sidesupport members connecting said power operated means to the mold boardassembly at a position forwardly of said axis.

RAYMORE D. MACDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 118,612 Baechli Jan. 23, 1940940,997 Whaley Nov. 23, 1909 1,200,092 Elliott Oct. 3, 1916 1,421,225Haupt June 27, 1922 1,489,753 Fraley Apr. 8, 1924 1,768,657 Baker July1, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,339 Germany Mar. 9, 1926

